JK Department of Information issues advertisement

Srinagar: With frequent appeals by various
political parties to institutes, parents and students to
resume normal education activities falling on deaf ears, the
Jammu and Kashmir Department of Information has now stepped in
to do its bit.

An advertisement issued in public interest by the
Department of Information and Public Relations stating `What
does denying our children education ACHIEVE?` has been
carried by almost all the local newspapers today.

"It is to set people thinking and remind them that the
education sector has collapsed. It is just an advertisement.

The government instructed and we obeyed," an official said.

Protests coupled with strikes and curfew in the Valley
for around two months have hit the education sector hard.

While the education department is resorting to stringent
measures to bring education back on track, the separatists had
earlier appealed the parents to educate their children at
homes.

In a circular issued by the education department, the
Deputy Commissioners have been asked to constitute monitoring
squads at district, zonal-levels to monitor the attendance of
teachers.

The circular issued on July 22 said that the teaching
staff found unauthorisedly absent shall immediately be placed
under suspension by the Chief Education Officers and the
persons with highest qualification in the area shall be
appointed in leave arrangement in their places for smooth
conduct of the classes.

"The students should in their own interests attend the
school regularly and devote their time for studies so that
they are able to complete their syllabus and compete with
others. The registration of private schools will be cancelled
if they do not keep schools open. Our teams are monitoring
the attendance of teachers frequently," Minister for Education
and Public Enterprises Peerzada Mohammad Syeed said.

In a bid to minimise the loss suffered by the students,
some of the schools in the Valley have also opted for
e-lectures.

"Students are suffering a lot, particularly the ones who
have to appear in board exams. We are frequently providing
them with electronic lectures and home assignments so that
they remain in touch with studies," Principal of Delhi Public
School Srinagar K K Sharma said.

The 2010 education session which began in March brought in
a large number of strikes, holidays, bandhs and curfews taking
the total number of off days to 82 out of 148.

Following the killing of 17-year-old Tufail Ahmad Mattoo
allegedly by police on June 11, the Valley witnessed a series
of strikes, demonstrations and later curfew was clamped which
disrupted normal life.